to the Ornithology of Egypt. 289 



In tlic spring the plumnge of the Blaok-eared Chat hccomcs 

 so much ahraded that the fcatliers have an almost hair-like 

 texture. There appears to be hut one moult — in autumn. 



13. Saxicola deserti Riippell. 

 Saxicola deserti Shelley, p. 74. 



A male of this species frequented the Zoological Gardens 

 for several days during November 1906; on December 11th, 

 1908, I shot an adult male near the Giza Pyramids, aiul on 

 J'ebruary 4th, 1909, 1 saw several others near the same place. 



14. Saxicola lugens Licht. 

 Saxicola lugens Shelley, p. 77 . 



This is the most abundant Chat in tlie desert, where it is 

 resident. I have nine specimens collected at different times 

 of year, from the Giza Pyramids and the Wadi Hof • in 

 the latter place it is abundant. The sexes are superficially 

 alike, but the female has shorter wings and the black is not 

 so intense as that of the male. A young bird (August 11th 

 1908) is sandy brown on the crown and upper parts ; the 

 wings and throat are, however, black, and at first sight it is 

 possible to take it for an example of Saxicola deserti. The 

 tail, however, is always more than half white. 



[n the 'Birds of Egypt' Shelley describes the pre-ent 

 species as having the " top of the head and nape pale dusky.'"* 

 This, however, refers to birds in winter-plumage, that is, 

 directly after the autumn moult. In spring these parts in 

 old males at any rate, are pure white. 



15. Saxicola leucopygia Brehm. 

 Saxicola leucopygia Shelley, p. 79. 



At present I have only met with this species in the Wadi 

 Hof. In habits it is very much more shy than S. lugens 

 though the>two may be found in the same locality. There 

 are two varieties of this bird. Some examples have the 

 crown of the head white, while in others it is black like 

 the remainder of the upper parts^ but the difference does not 

 appear to be due either to sex or season. I have an adult 

 pair with white crowns which 1 shot in February 1908 an 

 adult and a young bird with black heads obtained in Au^^ust 



